Salt substitutes reduce the risk of heart disease and premature death

In the new researchEffects of salt substitutes on clinical outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis / Heart, published in the journal Heart, scientists from around the world say that dietary salt substitutes reduce the risk of diseases associated with the cardiovascular system - the most common cause of death worldwide the world.

A diet high in sodium and low in potassium is known to cause high blood pressure. This is one of the factors of premature death.

According to scientists, at least 1.28 billion people in the world suffer from high blood pressure, half of whom are unaware of health problems. Studies have shown that salt substitutes that use potassium chloride (KCl) instead of sodium chloride (NaCl) help lower blood pressure.

The researchers analyzed 21 clinical trials involving almost 30,000 people from around the world, where Participants were asked to ditch table salt in favor of a chloride-supplemented substitute. potassium. The results of the analysis showed that dietary changes caused a decrease in systolic and diastolic (upper and lower) blood pressure by 4.61 mm Hg. Art. and 1.61 mm Hg. Art. respectively.

This pattern can be traced regardless of gender, age and region of residence of the study participants. Every 10% reduction in the proportion of sodium chloride in a salt substitute is associated with a decrease in systolic blood pressure by 1.53 mmHg. and diastolic - by 0.95 mm Hg. The experiments also did not reveal any harm to the human body using an analogue of table salt.

The results showed that a modified diet reduced the risk of premature death by 11%, cardiovascular disease by 13%, and stroke by 11%.